項次 1839

Incoming letter in the use of Indian Ship Letter Rate (from March to Sept 1845) 1845 (May 4), a half ounce letter sent from U.K. to Canton China, addressed to Messrs. Dent & Co. Canton, showing a dispatch c.d.s. “PAID / MAY 4 / E / 1845 / A”, another UK boxed cancellation “H PAID / 6 MY 6 / 1845”, and red crayon rate marks: “1(s) / 9(d) and 10(d) = 2(s) / 7(d)” [i.e. British packet 1/-, Mediterranean transit 5d, India-China Ship 4d per half ounce, plus 10d per half ounce for French transit]. The letter dispatched from UK post office on 4 May, missed the P&O “D. Cornwall”, but captured “Iberia” on 7 May, sailing via EIC “Cleopatra” to Bombay, then private ship “Prince of Castle Huntley” to arrive at the port of Hong Kong on 28 July, going through the HK post office next day on 29 July, paying the Red Seas Ship Letter 4d due to riding on a private ship. A good pair of Indian Ship Letter Rate usages together with the previous lot of outgoing letter.